Shoe-closure.



P. BABLE.

SHOE CLOSURE.

APPLxcAnoN man No.2?

Patented Mar. 25, 1919.

PAUL BABLE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SHOE-CLOSURE.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Har. 25, 1919.

Application filed December 27, 1917. Serial No. 209,105.

To @Zlio/tom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL BABLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Closures; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in hoes yand particularly to the closures there- One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved form of closure which can be more quickly and easily laced up and unlaced than with the laced shoes now in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure and lacing therefor which can be readily adjusted for insteps of various heights.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoe made in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

'Fig'. l is a front elevation of the shoe showing the closure in open position.

Referring particularly to 4the accompanying drawing, 10 represents a shoe having the closure flaps 11 and 12. In the flap 11 there are formed a longitudinal series of transverse openings or slots 13, the uppermost one 13 of which is disposed at an angle to the remainder, or approximately at right angles to the upper edge of the shoe. In the other flap 12, of the closure, and adjacent the edge thereof, are formed the longitudinal series of transverse openings or slots 14, the same being so arranged with respect to the openings 13 that they will be in registry when the flap 11 is brought down over the flap 12 and for interlacing of the single strap 15. This strap is secured in the vamp of the shoe, as shown at 16. Intermediate the openings 14, and in a line slightly nearer the edge of the flap 12, there are formed the additional slots 17. A second slot 18 is formed adjacent the slot 13 for purpose of adjustment of the free end of the strap around the wearers ankle.

'Secured to the upper end of the flap 11, atV

a suitable distance from the edge thereof, is a buckle 19, through which the free end of the strap is passed after lbeing engaged around the ankle ofthe wearer, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

As will be readily understood from an inspection of the drawing, the strap is interlaced through the slots of the two closures and after the end of the strap is passed around the ankle it is engaged with the buckle. Thus a neat and smooth front is produced and one without the uncomfortable hooks which press into the ankle. By lacing the strap through either series of slots in the closure flap 12, the shoe may be easily and comfortably adjusted to the foot and ankle of the wearer.

When the shoe is to be taken oft' it is only necessary to release the end of the strap from the buckle and pull the flaps apart, the strap being of suiiicient length to remain in all of the slots after the shoe has been taken oi. The shoe, when lput on is adjusted by simple pulling on the free end of the strap and engaging the strap around the ankle after which the terminal is engaged with the buckle.

What is claimed is:

In a. closure, the combination with a shoe upper having a plurality of longitudinal series of transverse slots disposed with their corresponding slots in groups, of a fla-p shiftable and overlappable with respect to the shoe upper and having a longitudinal series of single transverse slots and positioned and spaced to register with the separate series of slots of the shoe upper when the fiap is correspondingly shifted, a strap secured to the i'lap and interlaced through the slots of the shoe upper and the flap, and means for securing the other end of the strap to the flap at the other end thereof.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in the lpresence of two witnesses.

PAUL BABLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

